WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to call for an early review of Disney’s broadcast licenses, according to news reports, after President Trump called on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for remarks made on a recent broadcast. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has also recently criticized Disney publicly and suggested the company’s broadcast licenses could face FCC scrutiny. Taken together, these developments continue a campaign by senior government officials to intimidate media organizations that broadcast or publish speech the president disfavors.

The following can be attributed to Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University:

“The FCC has no authority to cancel broadcasters’ licenses because of their perceived political views. But this isn’t just about the rights of Disney and ABC. President Trump is trying to consolidate control over what Americans see and hear on the radio, television, and social media. If he gets his way, we’ll have only government-aligned media organizations that broadcast only government-approved news and commentary. It would be difficult to imagine an outcome more corrosive to democracy or more offensive to the First Amendment.”

For more information, contact: Adriana Lamirande, [email protected]